I Say - Jack Krupansky

My personal opinions, random rants, and perspectives

Friday, February 26, 2010

Cafe Philo in New York City meets in two weeks on Thursday, 3/11: Who are we, where are we going?

Due to the inclement weather last night, the regular Cafe Philo NYC discussion was cancelled and rescheduled for the next regular meeting date, so Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks on Thursday, March 11, 2010 with a discussion on the topic of "Who are we, where are we going?" (Same topic).

There were actually five of us that showed up last night, including Bernard and myself, but we just had some informal conversation (and wine and food.) We joked that the discussion topic was "What are we doing here, when are we leaving?"

This is a wide open question. Maybe it seems too broad, but it does capture the current feeling of many people being concerned that "we" are "off track." So, who is "we", and what "track" do we think "we" is supposed to be on, anyway?

Incidentally, "Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?" is the name of a famous painting by Paul Gauguin. In French, it was "D'où venons-nous? / Que sommes-nous? / Où allons-nous?" Apparently, that title may have derived from his earlier catechism questions of "Where does humanity come from?", "Where is it going to?", and "How does humanity proceed?"

In any case, we will take our own Cafe Philo approach to considering the pair of questions.

As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Restaurant (Afghan food) at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)

After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.

There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.

There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Cafe Philo in New York City meets on Thursday, 2/25: Who are we, where are we going?

Cafe Philo in New York City will meet this week on Thursday, February 25, 2010 with a discussion on the topic of "Who are we, where are we going?"

This is a wide open question. Maybe it seems too broad, but it does capture the current feeling of many people being concerned that "we" are "off track." So, who is "we", and what "track" do we think "we" is supposed to be on, anyway?

Incidentally, "Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?" is the name of a famous painting by Paul Gauguin. In French, it was "D'où venons-nous? / Que sommes-nous? / Où allons-nous?" Apparently, that title may have derived from his earlier catechism questions of "Where does humanity come from?", "Where is it going to?", and "How does humanity proceed?"

In any case, we will take our own Cafe Philo approach to considering the pair of questions.

I have been acting as moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending recently as a participant, including last week for the discussion of "Is dissent a form of optimism?" We had 7 people in attendence last Thursday, including Bernard.

As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Restaurant (Afghan food) at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)

After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.

There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.

There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Just made another down payment on the public debt of the U.S. government

I just made my second monthly payment to pay down the public debt of the U.S. government. Not much, just $25, but it is a matter of principle. It may take me another 50 billion years to pay it all down all by myself at this rate, but, as I said, it is matter of principle.

What I wrote last month when I made my first donation/gift/payment:

Everybody is whining and complaining about the ballooning debt of the U.S. government, but who is actually doing anything about it? Well, for starters, ME! Yes, that's right, I, Jack Krupansky, just did something to reduce the U.S. government debt. Really. No kidding. I actually paid down a small slice of this debt. Granted, it was a rather small slice, but a slice nonetheless. Okay, sure, it was only $20, but the point is that at least I am one of the very few people willing to stand up and DO something about the problem, rather than be one of the whiners and complainers who refuse to acknowledge that it is their debt and their problem, not just the fault of mindless politicians in Washington, D.C. After all, every politician ultimately answers to voters and most of the so-called wasteful spending of the U.S. government is simply politicians responding to the demands of their consistituents (voters.) Maybe my one small contribution to paying down the debt won't really make any difference to any of those whiners and complainers, but for me it is a matter of principle. I consciously choose action rather than the inaction of the whiners and complainers.

If you have any sense of principle, you too can pay down a slice of the U.S. government debt yourself at Pay.gov. You can pay via credit card or debit transfer from a bank account.

So do the right thing and show all those whiners and complainers (including so-called "tax protesters") how mindless and spineless they really are. PAY DOWN THE DEBT! And that has to start at the grass roots with us individuals before politicians will ever pick up the lead.

2) Jefferson: Referred to "progress of the human mind". Chiseled into stone inside the Jefferson Memorial: "I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors." See: http://www.monticello.org/reports/quotes/memorial.html

3) Maybe Jefferson picked up the "progress" concept from French philosopher Marquis de Condorcet with his Esquisse d'un tableau historique des progrès de l'esprit humain (Sketch for a Historical Picture of the Progress of the Human Spirit.) " ... the intimate connection between scientific progress and the development of human rights and justice, and outlines the features of a future rational society entirely shaped by scientific knowledge." See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marquis_de_Condorcet

4) Manifest Destiny. "... a term that was used in the 19th century to designate the belief that the United States was destined, even divinely ordained, to expand across the North American continent, from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific Ocean. " "... some commentators believe that aspects of Manifest Destiny, particularly the belief in an American 'mission' to promote and defend democracy throughout the world, continues to have an influence on American political ideology". See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifest_Destiny

5) Recent anxiety and polls suggesting that many Americans feel that "the country is off track." Maybe a lot of people agree with that characterization, but getting people to agree on what exactly the right "track" is may be an impossible task. It may depend your personal and group ideology.

6) Political, social, and religious ideologies and dogmas about "where we are going", or even "who we are". Is there anything objective here, or is it all subjective and up to interpretation and acceptance and promotion by each particular group?

7) Dialectic of history. Is socialism or capitalism a "dialectic of history" (the course of history is predetermined)? In other words, the inevitable end point, regardless of what happens in the mean time or what path occurs until that point? If the end is inevitable, why waste any energy avoiding or even contemplating that inevitability?

8) Determinism. "... the view that every event, including human cognition, behavior, decision, and action, is causally determined by an unbroken chain of prior occurrences." Ditto - If the end is inevitable, why waste any energy avoiding or even contemplating the inevitable? See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Determinism

9) "The journey is the destination." Focusing too much on the destination detracts from what we gain from the journey itself.

10) Are our goals and values inherently subjective and individual in nature, or inherently larger than the individual?

11) Is free will really compatible with some notion that we have some sort of "destination" (other than maybe death of individuals), or is "life" (especially the future of the human species) more of a never-ending journey? Or, maybe the collective destination is so much larger than the individual that individual choice and free will is unlikely to have any real impact on "the big picture".

Monday, February 15, 2010

Cafe Philo in New York City next week on Thursday, 2/25: Who are we, where are we going?

Cafe Philo in New York City will meet again next week on Thursday, February 25, 2010 with a discussion on the topic of "Who are we, where are we going?"

This is a wide open question. Maybe it seems too broad, but it does capture the current feeling of many people being concerned that "we" are "off track." So, who is "we", and what "track" do we think "we" is supposed to be on, anyway?

Incidentally, "Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?" is the name of a famous painting by Paul Gauguin. In French, it was "D'où venons-nous? / Que sommes-nous? / Où allons-nous?" Apparently, that title may have derived from his earlier catechism questions of "Where does humanity come from?", "Where is it going to?", and "How does humanity proceed?"

In any case, we will take our own Cafe Philo approach to considering the pair of questions.

I have been acting as moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending recently as a participant, including last week for the discussion of "Is dissent a form of optimism?" We had 7 people in attendence last Thursday, including Bernard.

As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Restaurant (Afghan food) at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink.

After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.

There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.

There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.

As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Restaurant (Afghan food) at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. By the way, the room has a great new air conditioner, so it is a welcome oasis on a hot or humid summer day.

There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.

There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.

As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Restaurant (Afghan food) at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. By the way, the room has a great new air conditioner, so it is a welcome oasis on a hot or humid summer day.

There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.

There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.

As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Restaurant (Afghan food) at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. By the way, the room has a great new air conditioner, so it is a welcome oasis on a hot or humid summer day.

There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.

There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.

As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Restaurant (Afghan food) at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. By the way, the room has a great new air conditioner, so it is a welcome oasis on a hot or humid summer day.

There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.

There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.